Tjitendero says Swapo leaders should facilitate campaigns

SWAPO’S top administrators should intervene to facilitate the campaigns of the presidential nominees in order to avoid mudslinging and character assassination, says National Assembly Speaker Mose Tjitendero.

In an interview, Tjitendero pointed out that by nominating three people to compete for presidential nomination, Swapo was “breaking new ground” and that the process should be managed to ensure party unity. “I’m saying this particularly in light of what is happening now … that there appear to be sections in the country saying we will accommodate this candidate and not this one.”The Speaker issued the public rebuke against his comrades amid accusations that dirty tricks were being used largely against Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya in favour of Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba.The latest incident is a document marked ‘confidential’ stating that there are two schools of thought in the presidential race -the anti and pro-Nujoma camps.Tjitendero said he had not personally witnessed or learnt about the incidents but ” … I think this is the most genuinely national process that is taking place and should encourage national debate”.Foreign Affairs Minister Hamutenya was forced to withdraw from making a speech at the May Day celebrations in the Oshikoto Region after regional councillors allegedly tried to boycott the event, claiming that he was sneaked into the programme.Tjitendero’s appeal to the Swapo president, Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General to “facilitate the appearances of candidates” comes amid the hotting up of the campaign inside party structures.”These are not candidates from rival political parties.These are children of the same father and mother, let’s not behave the same way we behave against our political opponents.There should be no enmity,” said Tjitendero.The Speaker said it should be appreciated that the process was a new experience “for us in Swapo too.We are moving from a more closely guarded [style] to a more open democracy-making process.”Tjitendero, who nominated Hamutenya, said he was not speaking out to advance the Foreign Minister’s campaign, but wanted to preserve party unity.He stressed that the precedent-setting process was still an internal party affair and should be handled as such.The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), which is affiliated to Swapo, complained that some ruling party leaders were engaging in mudslinging and character assassinations bordering on defamation.But they did not give any details.The document marked confidential claims one camp was comprised of two candidates: Pohamba as well as Higher Education Minister Nahas Angula, as the pro-Nujoma faction.The two would presumably perpetuate Nujoma’s “legacy”.The other camp is alleged to consist of Hamutenya’s followers, who the document describes as anti-Nujoma.Hamutenya’s followers are accused of fomenting an inner-Owambo tribal conflict, saying Nujoma should be the last of the “minority” sub-groups to rule the country and that he was promoting people from his region.The document says the race would boil down to Angula and Hamutenya because Pohamba has been discredited by Hamutenya’s campaigners.Some of those who support Hamutenya, said the document was aimed at smearing their candidate, suggesting that Angula’s supporters may be responsible.Health Minister Libertina Amathila who supports Angula scoffed at the suggestion.”Why should we go and smear-campaign somebody else,” said Amathila.”I’m saying this particularly in light of what is happening now … that there appear to be sections in the country saying we will accommodate this candidate and not this one.”The Speaker issued the public rebuke against his comrades amid accusations that dirty tricks were being used largely against Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya in favour of Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba.The latest incident is a document marked ‘confidential’ stating that there are two schools of thought in the presidential race -the anti and pro-Nujoma camps.Tjitendero said he had not personally witnessed or learnt about the incidents but ” … I think this is the most genuinely national process that is taking place and should encourage national debate”.Foreign Affairs Minister Hamutenya was forced to withdraw from making a speech at the May Day celebrations in the Oshikoto Region after regional councillors allegedly tried to boycott the event, claiming that he was sneaked into the programme.Tjitendero’s appeal to the Swapo president, Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General to “facilitate the appearances of candidates” comes amid the hotting up of the campaign inside party structures.”These are not candidates from rival political parties.These are children of the same father and mother, let’s not behave the same way we behave against our political opponents.There should be no enmity,” said Tjitendero.The Speaker said it should be appreciated that the process was a new experience “for us in Swapo too.We are moving from a more closely guarded [style] to a more open democracy-making process.”Tjitendero, who nominated Hamutenya, said he was not speaking out to advance the Foreign Minister’s campaign, but wanted to preserve party unity.He stressed that the precedent-setting process was still an internal party affair and should be handled as such.The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), which is affiliated to Swapo, complained that some ruling party leaders were engaging in mudslinging and character assassinations bordering on defamation.But they did not give any details.The document marked confidential claims one camp was comprised of two candidates: Pohamba as well as Higher Education Minister Nahas Angula, as the pro-Nujoma faction.The two would presumably perpetuate Nujoma’s “legacy”.The other camp is alleged to consist of Hamutenya’s followers, who the document describes as anti-Nujoma.Hamutenya’s followers are accused of fomenting an inner-Owambo tribal conflict, saying Nujoma should be the last of the “minority” sub-groups to rule the country and that he was promoting people from his region.The document says the race would boil down to Angula and Hamutenya because Pohamba has been discredited by Hamutenya’s campaigners.Some of those who support Hamutenya, said the document was aimed at smearing their candidate, suggesting that Angula’s supporters may be responsible.Health Minister Libertina Amathila who supports Angula scoffed at the suggestion.”Why should we go and smear-campaign somebody else,” said Amathila.